Origins and development of labour party

overview

• until twentieth century wc largely rep by collection of MP and peers from liberal and conservative parties, when trade unions became legalised (end 19th c) wc finally had organisations to rep interests

• logical that unions begin to put candidates for election in UK parliament, unions not political party and dint seek power, new party needed, two parties of left emerged.

creation of labour party

• created 1900, offshoot of trade unions movement, funded by unions ans many members were union leaders and members,

• before that 1893 a socialist party already been founded, independent labour party, 1906 ILP formed agreement w labour party, agreed not to put up parl candidates vs eachother and in same constituencies, agreement short-lived began to go separate ways.

• ILP socialist party, committed to overthrow of capitalism and its replacement by workers state by peaceful democratic means.

• labour more moderate socialist simply wanted to improve conditions of wc n to control excess of capitalism, state seek to reconcile conflicting interests of wc w those of their employees, labour known for demo cosialism, 1970 ILP ceased to exist as separate party since acted as fraction within labour party

• many of characteristics of early labour can be seen today, continues to be largely financed by trade unions n union leaders play major role, many ILP factions responsible for election of Jeremy corbyn in 2015.

Labour since ww2

• 1945 general election turning point, achieved full majority control of commons for first time, from then = 2nd largest party. in 1980s suffered two huge defeats at hands of thatcher, resulted in party split, some left n form new = social democrats, led by Foot and Benn, wished to return to old labour n move more left. others saw future in party lying in moderate policies towards centre,

• under leadership of Kinnock and smith, party began to be reformed, after smith death 1992 blair became leader, supported by brown, cook and mandela on, under blair party renamed “new labour” and policies characterised as “third way”, led to three victories, 1997, 2001, 2005.

labour and unions

• until 1960s labour n trade unions movement seen as indistinguishable, party acting as mouthpiece or political arm for unions, many labour MP come to politics thru union support and union policies

• trade unions by requiring all members to pay subscription, had considerable financial influence over party, during attlee years 1945-52, labour intro reforms that unions demanded and would help estab powers of unions in UK industry inc led around strikes n pay.

• during 1960s differences between trade unions and labour grew, process of de industrialisation occurred and UK econ began to move from heavy industry, full employment became harder for politicians to get, inflation caused by pay increases n protection for uk industry made hard for labour to support all union demands

• union leaders became political figures n challenged labour party leadership, conservatives asked who governs union or elected politicians?

• until 1980 labour party leadership elected among mp only mp can vote, labour constitution and labour policy had to be approved by party itself, union leaders had block vote, meaning would vote for all members, so leaders of largest union dominated

• difficult for moderate social democtaric members to exert influence, one reason for labour move left 1980s maintain commitment to nationalism n full employment at time where econ change n ideas less popular

• 1981- labour intro electoral college system for leadership elections, allocate 1/3 votes to unions, w leaders having block vote, 1/3 to mp and 1/3 to party members, meant some party members receive multiple votes, increase control n power of unions determining party leadership and direction.

labour and unions 1980

• in 1980 power and rep of traditional unions declined, conservative gov intro tighter control and regulations on unions so membership and funds declined, reducing overall influence.

• after humiliating defeat of 1983 labour began to take on unions, leader kinnock publicly chastising worst excess of union behaviours, successor smith removing block vote, blair then persuaded membership ro remover clause IV and sought new forms of funding from. businesses and other non-union, unions remain closely associated w labour strength and inf during new labour reduce

• since 2010, unions seen increase in inf, do not control votes but have powerful inf over membership, support helped secure victories for miliband and corbyn over more centralist candidates, starmer had to work to win union support since election in 2020

• union funds play inc imp role in finances, under corbyn union leaders esp UNITE union work close w labour leadership n influenced policy to reduce union influence on party policy, some unions threat withhold funding and he continues to try gain support, show unions still play key role.